# Surgical repair of a rare sternal origin pectoralis major rupture using a novel mesh-anchor-suture technique: a case report

**Authors:** Hafez Saade, Antoine Saber, Firas Al Hassan, Jihad Boutrous, Joe Abi Akl

PMC · DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjaf1047 · Journal of Surgical Case Reports · 2026-01-07

## TL;DR

A new surgical technique successfully repaired a rare pectoralis major muscle rupture in a 33-year-old man after a combat sport injury.

## Contribution

A novel mesh-anchor-suture technique was used to repair a chronic sternal origin pectoralis major rupture.

## Key findings

- The novel surgical technique restored near full range of motion and strength within 6 months.
- The approach demonstrates feasibility for repairing rare sternal origin pectoralis major ruptures with delayed presentation.

## Abstract

In this case report, we present a 33-year-old male patient with a rare, chronic, isolated rupture of the sternal head of the pectoralis major (PM) at its sternal origin following a combat sport injury. Managing this case proved challenging due to the chronicity of the injury, which caused significant retraction and suboptimal tissue quality, and the scarcity of available literature regarding such cases. We employed a novel surgical technique using a polypropylene mesh-anchor-suture construct to reinsert the muscle to its sternal origin. Recovery was uneventful, with restoration of near full range of motion and strength by 6 months post-surgery. Our approach to this case demonstrates the feasibility of surgical repair of rare PM ruptures of sternal origin, even with delayed presentation, using modified surgical techniques.

## Full-text entities

- **Diseases:** PM ruptures (MESH:D012421), of the pectoralis (MESH:C566793), injury (MESH:D014947)
- **Chemicals:** polypropylene (MESH:D011126)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

6 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12774509/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12774509